This study of the relationship between maternal depressive symptomatology and perceptions of child behavior used standard child behavior stimuli to control for differences in child behavior. A total of 31 mothers of children between 5 and 12 years of age with externalizing behavior disorders participated. Each mother watched three videotapes of children and completed ratings of the children. In one presentation, the child displayed externalizing behaviors; in a second, the child displayed internalizing behaviors; in a third, the child behaved in a prosocial manner. Mothers also completed several measures of depressive symptomatology. There were significant correlations between a composite measure of maternal depressive symptomatology and negative perceptions of all three child behavior presentations. Maternal depressive symptomatology was also related to mothers' perceptions of their children, but not to teachers' perceptions of these children. Results suggested that depressive symptomatology makes a small, but significant, contribution to maternal perceptions of child problems. (Author/RH)